Electronic unit for measuring operating parameters of a vehicle wheel

Abstract

A tire monitoring system electronic unit suitable for being mounted either on the tire inflation valve or on the internal surface of the tire. The system includes electronics for managing the electronic unit including sensors for measuring parameters of the tire, a microprocessor and a supply battery, and an antenna configured to be mountable on the management electronics; a way of securing the antenna and the electronic managing device to each other; the management electronics thus forming a common base capable of being used with an antenna that can be adapted to the intended location of the electronic unit, either on the tire inflation valve or on the internal surface of the tire.

Claims

1. An electronic unit of a tire monitoring system capable of being fastened either on a tire inflation valve or on an internal surface of said tire, comprising: management electronics of the electronic unit comprising sensors for measuring parameters of said tire, a microprocessor and a supply battery; a housing containing the management electronics; mechanical and electrical connection means for the management electronics; the management electronics with the mechanical electrical connection means forming a common base configured to be connected with a plurality of antennas; and at least one of the plurality of antennas, the at least one of the plurality of antennas having a first portion external to the housing and configured to be mounted on the management electronics via the mechanical and electrical connection means by insertion of a second portion of the at least one of the plurality of antennas into the housing, the at least one of the plurality of antennas being selected according to an intended location of the electronic unit, the intended location including a first location on the tire inflation valve and a second location on the internal surface of the tire.

2. The electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of antennas is made of brass with a plastic overmolding.

3. The electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of antennas is made of printed plastic.

4. The electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein the housing is a plastic housing.

5. The electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical and electrical connection means of the at least one of the plurality of antennas and the management electronics comprises protruding pins.

6. The electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical and electrical connection means of the at least one of the plurality of antennas and the management electronics comprises fastening tabs.

7. The electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of antennas has openings for the passage of a molding material, at least in part of its longitudinal sides.

8. The electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of antennas comprises a sleeve capable of cooperating with an inflation valve to allow its fastening on the latter.

9. The electronic unit according to claim 8, wherein the at least one of the plurality of antennas has a support tab arranged in a longitudinal extension of the at least one of the plurality of antennas opposite the sleeve.

10. The electronic unit according to claim 9, wherein the at least one of the plurality of antennas includes a metal part, and the metal part extends into the sleeve.

11. The electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of antennas is a loop antenna.

12. The electronic unit according to claim 2, wherein the at least one of the plurality of antennas is made of printed plastic.

13. The electronic unit according to claim 2, wherein the housing is a plastic housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other subject matters, characteristics and advantages of aspects of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1, already discussed, is an exploded perspective view of an electronic unit and an inflation valve according to a first embodiment of the prior art.

(3) FIG. 2, already discussed, is a perspective view of an electronic unit according to a second embodiment of the prior art.

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the mounted antenna according to an aspect of the invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the mounted antenna according to an aspect of the invention.

(6) FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an electronic unit according to an aspect of the invention comprising a mounted antenna according to FIG. 4.

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the mounted antenna according to an aspect of the invention.

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the electronic unit according to an aspect of the invention comprising a mounted antenna according to FIG. 6.

(9) FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating the electronic unit of FIG. 7 shown mounted on the inflation valve of a tire.

(10) FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of the mounted antenna according to an aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(11) The electronic unit 1 according to an aspect of the invention, shown by way of example in FIGS. 3 to 9, is intended to be mounted on a wheel of a vehicle for measuring operating parameters (pressure, temperature, acceleration, etc.) of said wheel, and for transmitting the measured data to a central unit (not shown) mounted on the vehicle.

(12) This electronic unit 1, adapted to be mounted inside a tire casing, comprises management electronics 2 of the electronic unit 1 comprising sensors 3 for measuring the parameters of said tire such as the radial acceleration of the wheel, pressure and temperature of the tire fitted to this wheel, a microprocessor 4 and a supply battery 5.

(13) The electronic unit 1 according to an aspect of the invention is remarkable in that it comprises an external antenna 6 whose characteristics may be adjusted according to the intended location (on the tire inflation valve or on the internal surface of the tire) of said electronic unit.

(14) Therefore, the antenna 6 according to an aspect of the invention is configured to be mountable on the management electronics 2 of the electronic unit 1, through mechanical and electrical connection means 7.

(15) According to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, these mechanical and electrical connection means 7 of the antenna 6 and the management electronics 2 consist of protruding fastening pins, the antenna 6 thus configured being able to be mounted on the management electronics 2 by fitting into openings (not shown) provided in the latter.

(16) According to another advantageous exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 9, the mechanical and electrical connection means 7 of the antenna 6 and the management electronics 2 consist of fastening tabs, the antenna 6 thus being configured to be able to be forcefully inserted into the management electronics 2 in the corresponding openings (not shown) provided in the latter.

(17) The external antenna 6 according to an aspect of the invention may be manufactured in any known manner. For example, it is made of brass 6a with a plastic overmolding 6b, or printed plastic, the tracks 6′a being directly printed, in a manner known per se, on a plastic 6′b, or else the brass antenna is inserted into a plastic housing.

(18) According to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 8, the mounted antenna 6 comprises a sleeve 8 capable of cooperating with an inflation valve V to allow its fastening to the latter, this fastening being performed in a manner known per se, for example, by means of a worm screw.

(19) The antenna 6 may thus come in several forms which make it possible for the electronic unit 1, to which said antenna is equipped, to be mountable on different locations of a vehicle wheel whose parameters are to be monitored, said electronic unit 1 having the same management electronics 2, whatever its final intended location.

(20) Thus, such an electronic unit 1 may then consist of common base management electronics 2 (i.e., without antenna) and an antenna 6 without sleeve when it is intended to be bonded to the internal surface of a vehicle wheel tire (FIG. 8).

(21) Alternatively, such an electronic unit 1 may consist of common base management electronics 2 (i.e., without antenna) and an antenna 6 with sleeve when it is intended to be mounted on the tire inflation valve of a vehicle wheel (FIGS. 3 to 8).

(22) In other words, depending on whether it is intended to be bonded on the internal surface of the tire or to be mounted on the tire inflation valve, the electronic unit 1 according to an aspect of the invention has a common base consisting of the management electronics 2, and a mounted antenna 6 adapted (i.e., with or without a sleeve) according to the intended location (namely, the internal surface of the tire or the tire inflation valve).

(23) When its intended location is to be fastened on a tire inflation valve V (FIG. 8), the antenna 6 has a support tab 9 arranged in the longitudinal extension of the antenna opposite the sleeve. This support tab 9 has the interesting advantage of forming a contact interface with the rim tape J of the wheel on which the electronic unit 1 is mounted. This way, a functional clearance G is intrinsically created between the management electronics 2 and said rim tape J, thus making it possible to prevent the management electronics 2 from bearing directly against said rim tape J at the risk of being damaged.

(24) The set formed by the management electronics 2 and the antenna 6 adapted to the intended location of the electronic unit 1 is overmolded, for example, by reaction injection molding (RIM) with polyurethane.

(25) Advantageously, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the antenna 6 has openings 10, for example, at least in part on its longitudinal sides. These openings 10 allow the passage of the overmolding material E so as to form a stiffening spear of the mechanical connection between the mounted antenna 6 and the management electronics 2 during their overmolding.

(26) The antenna 6 according to an aspect of the invention may have any shape.

(27) According to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 9, the antenna is a loop antenna.

(28) According to yet another interesting exemplary embodiment (not shown), the metal part 6b or 6′b of the antenna 6 extends into the sleeve 8 when intended to be mounted on a tire inflation valve V. As a result, the range of the antenna 6 is extended by the metal part of the valve so that the latter serves as an antenna, thus improving the radiation of the antenna 6.